The authors incorporate three themes in the briefer of their two textbooks; process of science (how we know what we know), the size and scale of the universe as well as the evolution of the universe. A Beginner's Guide emphasizes critical thinking and visualization, and a leading-edge technology program.

Author Bio

Chaisson, Eric : Tufts University

McMillan, Steve : Drexel University

Prologue.

The "Obvious" View. Earth's Orbital Motion. The Measurement of Distance.

1. The Copernican Revolution: The Birth of Modern Science.

The Orbit of the Moon. Planetary Motion. The Birth of Modern Astronomy. The Laws of Planetary Motion. Newton's Laws.

2. Light and Matter: The Inner Workings of the Cosmos.

Information from the Skies. Waves in What? The Electromagnetic Spectrum. Thermal Radiation. Spectroscopy. The Formation of Spectral Lines. The Doppler Effect.

4. The Solar System: Interplanetary Matter and the Birth of the Planets.

An Inventory of the Solar System. Solar System Debris. The Formation of the Solar System. Planets Beyond the Solar System.

5. Earth and Its Moon: Our Cosmic Backyard.

Earth and the Moon in Bulk. The Tides. Atmospheres. Interiors. Surface Activity on Earth. The Surface of the Moon. Magnetospheres. History of the Earth-Moon System.

6. The Terrestrial Planets: A Study in Contrasts.

Orbital and Physical Properties. Rotation Rates. Atmospheres. The Surface of Mercury. The Surface of Venus. The Surface of Mars. Internal Structure and Geological History. Atmospheric Evolution on Earth, Venus, and Mars. The Moons of Mars.

7. The Jovian Planets: Giants of the Solar System.

Observations of Jupiter and Saturn. The Discoveries of Uranus and Neptune. Bulk Properties of the Jovian Planets. Jupiter's Atmosphere. The Atmospheres of the Outer Jovian Worlds. Jovian Interiors.

8. Moons, Ring, and Pluto: Small Worlds among Giants.

The Galilean Moons of Jupiter. The Large Moons of Saturn and Neptune. The Medium-Sized Jovian Moons. Planetary Rings. Pluto and Its Moon. Is Pluto a Planet?

9. The Sun: Our Parent Star.

The Sun in Bulk. The Solar Interior. The Solar Atmosphere. The Active Sun. The Heart of the Sun.

The Universe of the Largest Scales. The Expanding Universe. The Fate of the Cosmos. The Geometry of Space. The Early Universe. The Formation of Nuclei and Atoms. Cosmic Inflation. The Formation of Large-Scale Structure in the Universe.

18. Life in the Universe: Are We Alone?

Cosmic Evolution. Life in the Solar System. Intelligent Life in the Galaxy. The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence.

Other Editions for Astronomy : A Beginner's Guide to the Universe - With CD

The authors incorporate three themes in the briefer of their two textbooks; process of science (how we know what we know), the size and scale of the universe as well as the evolution of the universe. A Beginner's Guide emphasizes critical thinking and visualization, and a leading-edge technology program.

Author Bio

Chaisson, Eric : Tufts University

McMillan, Steve : Drexel University

Table of Contents

Prologue.

The "Obvious" View. Earth's Orbital Motion. The Measurement of Distance.

1. The Copernican Revolution: The Birth of Modern Science.

The Orbit of the Moon. Planetary Motion. The Birth of Modern Astronomy. The Laws of Planetary Motion. Newton's Laws.

2. Light and Matter: The Inner Workings of the Cosmos.

Information from the Skies. Waves in What? The Electromagnetic Spectrum. Thermal Radiation. Spectroscopy. The Formation of Spectral Lines. The Doppler Effect.

4. The Solar System: Interplanetary Matter and the Birth of the Planets.

An Inventory of the Solar System. Solar System Debris. The Formation of the Solar System. Planets Beyond the Solar System.

5. Earth and Its Moon: Our Cosmic Backyard.

Earth and the Moon in Bulk. The Tides. Atmospheres. Interiors. Surface Activity on Earth. The Surface of the Moon. Magnetospheres. History of the Earth-Moon System.

6. The Terrestrial Planets: A Study in Contrasts.

Orbital and Physical Properties. Rotation Rates. Atmospheres. The Surface of Mercury. The Surface of Venus. The Surface of Mars. Internal Structure and Geological History. Atmospheric Evolution on Earth, Venus, and Mars. The Moons of Mars.

7. The Jovian Planets: Giants of the Solar System.

Observations of Jupiter and Saturn. The Discoveries of Uranus and Neptune. Bulk Properties of the Jovian Planets. Jupiter's Atmosphere. The Atmospheres of the Outer Jovian Worlds. Jovian Interiors.

8. Moons, Ring, and Pluto: Small Worlds among Giants.

The Galilean Moons of Jupiter. The Large Moons of Saturn and Neptune. The Medium-Sized Jovian Moons. Planetary Rings. Pluto and Its Moon. Is Pluto a Planet?

9. The Sun: Our Parent Star.

The Sun in Bulk. The Solar Interior. The Solar Atmosphere. The Active Sun. The Heart of the Sun.

The Universe of the Largest Scales. The Expanding Universe. The Fate of the Cosmos. The Geometry of Space. The Early Universe. The Formation of Nuclei and Atoms. Cosmic Inflation. The Formation of Large-Scale Structure in the Universe.

18. Life in the Universe: Are We Alone?

Cosmic Evolution. Life in the Solar System. Intelligent Life in the Galaxy. The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence.